Weston Consulting skills
shine in Markham
Weston Consulting’s skills at working out a deal that is positive for both sides came into play with a successful settlement with the City of Markham at the OMB.
Senior Associate Jim Levac represented a client at the OMB after a proposed amendment to a zoning bylaw failed to be enacted. The proposed amendment would have allowed for the rezoning of properties in order to develop ten single-family dwellings along with a private condominium road, an environmental buffer block and a valley land block. The appeal was complicated by a lack of decision on the proposed plans of subdivision and condominium.
Jim’s expert testimony, which provided the history of the application and noted that there had been extensive community consultation, showed that the proposed amendment was consistent with the objectives of all relevant governmental plans. Both sides agreed on a settlement in favour of nine single-family detached dwellings, a workable compromise.
Whitchurch-Stouffville downtown streetscape.
Watching Whitchurch-Stouffville manage growth
New homebuyers have been flocking to Whitchurch-Stouffville, prompting the Town to offer residents a chance to choose from a few options for a Growth Management Strategy.
With the Town's population swelling by 47 per cent from 2006 to 2011 and anticipated to grow to 60,600 by 2031, the strategy comes none too soon. Residents were presented with four options to guide development and direct population and employment growth to 2031.
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Option one envisioned future residential growth following a pattern of low-density development in greenfield areas without much intensification.
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Option two looked at a better use of greenfields through compact development and moderate intensification, with a greater share of higher density housing.
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Option three looked at accommodating growth through more intensification.
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Option four contemplated accommodating growth through remaining Phase 2 lands, requiring most residential growth in the form of medium and high-density development.
After much consultation, the public chose option two, using available greenfields and more high density housing.
The next step is the preparation of an amendment to the Stouffville Secondary Plan. Weston Consulting continues to monitor progress on behalf of a number of landowners in the Town.
inZone will implement Liveable Oakville Plan
inZone is the catchy name for the Town of Oakville's zoning by-law review. Currently in the consultation and adoption phase, inZone's first draft (version 1.0) is available on the Town website and is being refined as public and stakeholder feedback continues. A series of open houses continuing into June this year will gather more feedback which will inform the next draft of the Zoning by-law scheduled for release in fall 2013.
Weston Consulting has engaged in discussions with Town staff and is monitoring progress on the inZone project on a continuous basis. Please contact David Capper or Ashlee Rivet in our Oakville office for more information on inZone.
